I recently (after almost 2 years) completed the legal process of transferring my late grandmother's mineral rights into my name. I was also able to secure unclaimed property monies paid to my grandmother into the OK Unclaimed Property Fund.
However, the OK Unclaimed Property Fund was unable to release some of the funds because the mineral properties listed in final account and petition put together by my lawyer didn't include the mineral properties for which the remaining funds were paid. The strange thing is, the mineral properties to which these funds were paid is only one section over from the mineral properties once owned by my grandmother.
She owned the following property before selling it in 1997:
The mineral property for which unclaimed funds have been paid on behalf of a "Mary Frances Simpson" into the OK Unclaimed Properties Fund is:
Stephens County - SEC 34 T2N R7W
I believe my grandmother owned the mineral rights for the above property as well. It's too coincidental that it's just one section over from her previous property and the monies were paid to a person with her same name.
That being said, I'm unable to find any land records with her name on them in the Oklahoma Public Land Records database (http://okcountyrecords.com). Her name doesn't show up on any of the 76 records returned when searching Stephens County for all SEC 34 T2N R7W records:
Thanks for the reply. I suppose I would hire a landman to do the search for me. Stephens county isn't to close to Kansas City. :) I'm curious though why I wouldn't find anything in the online OK Public Land Records database. Perhaps the records is older than 1989, which from what I understand, is as far back as the online public records date.
I saw the records public land records for Sammy and Omega Simpson, but I can't say whether or not they were related to my grandmother. I suppose I could ask my aunt who might know.
When you say it's "possible the funds were incorrectly paid from the Unclaimed property funds", what exactly do you mean? The funds are in the OK Unclaimed Property Fund right now, in the name of my grandmother with a source coming from a leaser of Stephens County - SEC 34 T2N R7W.
I have found many instances with okcountyrecourds not showing everything within the data range in Stephens Co. It almost always is in the older records. They show the Stephens county records are there from Jun 1992 up. It is hard to believe there are no records on file between 1992 and 2005. I’m also showing slightly older leases recorded for those two sections that are not listed on okcountyrecourds
Depending on who answers the phone at the county clerk’s office, they should be willing to look up on their database records that show up with her name in the county. They should give you a list of book and page numbers and you can send a check and have those documents mailed to you for $1 a page. Because of the timeline you are likely looking for, it may answer some questions and likely give you more information and create some more leads/questions. Their number is 580- 255-0977.
You said “and the monies were paid to a person with her same name”. Based on that I thought you meant that money held is the Unclaimed property fund had already been distributed to someone with the same name as your grandmother. A landman is going to charge $300-$400 a day. You might only need someone that does title work to take a quick look. In many cases, it should take a couple of hours or less. As long as you don’t need to run the chain all the way back to verify acreage.
It will at least give you a start and answer some questions to give you a better idea of if you should engage a landman to run the title path of your grandmother’s properties.
I’m at Stephens Co Courthouse several times a year and could take a look, but I’m not sure I’ll be there before the end of the year.
BTW, I don’t even see a deed in here name for the property she sold in 1997.
Ahhh I think I found more. It looks like two deeds were filed in her name. 1 on 12/24/1997 for 33-2N-7W. Another on 1/15/1998 for 34-1S-8W. It is marked DEED, but since it is to Citizens petroleum Corp it is likely a mineral deed. Under the name SORENSON, MARY FRANCES SIMPSON
There is also about $31K being held in escrow for her if you have not found that yet.
She is also listed as a respondent on an application for 34-2N-7W from 2007. There are a couple of wells on that section currently producing that she should have an interest in.
Rick, you're a legend! Thanks so much for your help and research.
Might I ask what tools you use to do the research? Any links or other resources you can share with me?
I'll I really need is to show the OK Unclaimed Property division that she has ownership in the mineral rights of 34-2N-7W. When you say she's listed as a respondent on an application for that property, what do you mean and where can I see this myself?
Regarding the $31k being held in escrow, how did you see that? I've looked at the OK Unclaimed Property division website and have seen some listings with her name, but the entries only say "Under $100" or "Over $100".
Thanks again for all you help and advice.
Cheers!
- Matthew
Rick Howell said:
Matthew,
She is also listed as a respondent on an application for 34-2N-7W from 2007. There are a couple of wells on that section currently producing that she should have an interest in.
Search here http://www.occeweb.com/MOEASearch/index.aspx to see the $31K There is another under Simpson for $620. They will be a couple of the many that are listed in the OK Unclaimed Property division website.
The OCC will have the pooling orders that list the respondents. Finding them is the big issue.
Search here http://www.occeweb.com/MOEASearch/index.aspx to see the $31K There is another under Simpson for $620. They will be a couple of the many that are listed in the OK Unclaimed Property division website.
The OCC will have the pooling orders that list the respondents. Finding them is the big issue.
